Introduction

This report accompanies The Century Foundation’s report “Exact Title TBD: Student Debt and Race in California,” which examines how student debt puts outsized financial burdens on Black and Latino families in California, especially for graduate borrowers and parents.

While California lawmakers rightly draw on national research on student debt and race, the state-specific analyses we conduct in this research can help guide state policy that accounts for the distinct patterns of borrowing in California. In particular, these analyses draw attention to the effects of uncapped Parent PLUS and Grad PLUS loans on California’s families.

In this report, we walk through the details of the data that underlie that report and explain in greater depth what we do and do not know about student debt in California. Our analysis relies on four sources:

We also draw from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and the American Community Survey (ACS) to lesser extents.

The structure of this data-focused report mirrors that of the policy-focused report: the charts and tables in the policy report draw from our four primary data sources in the same order that they are presented here. The first figures in the report draw from the FSA Data Center, and they are followed by figures that draw from NPSAS, and so on. This report is not a static PDF: you can toggle between different versions of charts and hover over barcharts and scatterplots to reveal data points.

This document is more descriptive than prescriptive. Even data queries did not show striking contrasts between groups are included for full transparency, so long as they are relevant to the examination of student loan debt’s burden on California borrowers.

The code used to produce this document and its charts and tables can be found at this GitHub repository. All data sets used in this report are publicly available, courtesy of the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Federal Reserve, and the U.S. Census Bureau.

For any questions, please email granville@tcf.org.

Federal Student Aid Data Center

About the data

The FSA Data Center is a repository of data and statistics on federal student aid, including spreadsheets on student loans reported directly from the National Student Loan Data System. For this analysis we use two files from the FSA Data Center:

  • Quarterly reports on the federal student loan portfolio by borrower location, available here.
  • Quarterly reports on Direct Loan disbursements and borrowers by program at the level of the institution, available here.

For “per capita” measures of student debt and borrowing below, the population for comparison is the estimated total of all California adults aged 18 to 50, using American Community Survey data reflecting calendar year 2021, available here.

Findings

Table 1
California’s rank on average debt measures
Measure 50-state median California value California rank
Federal student loan debt per capita $10,494 $7,973 6
Federal student loan borrowers per capita 0.298 0.215 4
Average federal student loan balance $34,623 $37,084 40
Data source and notes

California has the most outstanding federal student loan debt and borrowers of any state, amounting to around 9 percent of the total portfolio.

Table 2
Size of California borrowers’ outstanding debt
Measure U.S. total California value California share
Total outstanding federal student loan debt $1,505,800,000,000 $141,800,000,000 9.4%
Total federal student loan borrowers 41,874,000 3,824,000 9.1%
Data source and notes

Now we turn to the quarterly data on disbursements. To evade any impact from the COVID-19 pandemic on the data, we examine data from the 2018-19 award year.

Table 3
Share of loan dollars disbursed in 2018-19 by loan type, California vs. U.S.
State Subsidized Unsubsidized undergraduate Unsubsidized graduate Parent PLUS loans Grad PLUS
CA 19.0% 17.0% 31.8% 12.8% 19.4%
U.S. 21.7% 22.7% 29.8% 14.0% 11.8%
Data source and notes

Figure 1
Data source and notes

Source: FSA Data Center.

Year(s) of analysis: Reflects loans distributed in 2018-19. Filtered for four-year institutions.

The breakdown of loans distributed by California institutions is skewed more towards Grad PLUS than the breakdown of loans distributed by institutions nationwide. Unsubsidized graduate loans also take up a larger slice of the pie in California than in the nation overall.

National Postsecondary Student Aid Study

About the data

The statistics in the previous section have all been based on institution-level data. For the most robust information on the relationship between student loan borrowing and race in California, we need student-level data. In the absence of a national student-level data set, we use survey data from the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS).

NPSAS is the largest federal survey of U.S. college students with a primary focus on financial aid. The study has generally been conducted every four years, most recently in 2016 (NPSAS:16), with separate data sets examining undergraduate and graduate students.

NPSAS data sets have not traditionally been used for state-level analyses, although the sample size for California students can be large enough to produce reliable estimates depending on the query. This past year, a new edition of NPSAS that was designed for state-representative samples was released. Known as NPSAS-AC (Administrative Collection), it draws from student records housed by colleges and the U.S. Department of Education for a sample of 325,000 undergraduates. Representative samples for public 4-year systems are available in NPSAS-AC for 45 states, and representative samples for public 2-year systems are available for 36 states. Thirty states have representative samples for undergraduate students overall. More information on NPSAS-AC can be found here.

In this section we rely primarily on NPSAS-AC, which reflects the 2017-18 year. For analysis of graduate students, we use NPSAS:16 and filter for in-state students in California. (The in-state condition is required for this query.)

These data are accessed using the National Center on Education Statistics’ (NCES) Datalab tool. Every query has a unique table retrieval number that can be used by any user to run the query in Datalab.

Findings

The figure below compares average undergraduate borrowing by racial group at California public four-years, compared to U.S. public four-years. Across all groups, the average federal loan total is lower in California than nationwide. However, California resembles the U.S. in that Black undergraduates and their families borrow more than their peers. California differs from the U.S. in that Latino/a undergraduates in the state borrow more than white undergraduates, though this is only the case for direct loans to the students and not Parent PLUS.

Figure 2
Data source and notes

Source: NPSAS:18-AC. Table retrieval number: lounfy.

Year(s) of analysis: Reflects students enrolled in the 2017-18 academic year. Only reflects undergraduate public 4-year institutions.

Note: Insufficient sample size for Native American / Alaskan Native population. Zeros are counted in the averages, meaning it includes those who took out no loans.

Figure 3
Data source and notes

Source: NPSAS:16. Table retrieval number: psiqll. Data can be accessed at NCES Datalab.

Year(s) of analysis: Reflects students enrolled in the 2015-16 academic year. Only reflects public 4-year institutions.

Notes: Private loans are also used, but the average loans are so small that Datalab considers the estimates unreliable. Due to limitations of NPSAS:16, this only applies to in-state students.

Across all groups, graduate students in California borrow more than graduate students nationwide. Black students and those of two or more races show the highest average loans, upwards of $20,000 per year. It is striking how Black graduate students in California borrow an average that is roughly two-thirds higher than both the average for Black graduate students nationwide and the average for white graduate students in California.

Among California students, the sample is not sufficient for a breakdown by award level. For context, here is a breakdown of gaps in average loans across all graduate program levels, reflecting the national sample. This demonstrates how professional doctorates show an extreme version of the trends just described. Although professional doctoral students in California constitutes a very small subsample in NPSAS, we can explore this further using the College Scorecard later on.

Figure 4
Data source and notes

Figure 4.1
Data source and notes

The averages here include those with no cumulative federal loans. *** #### {-}

NPSAS allows us to disaggregate by ethnicity, to a limited extent, for two racial groups (Hispanic and Asian). In California, average federal loans among Filipino undergraduates are higher than other Asian groups, matching a trend seen nationwide. Among Hispanic ethnicities in California, average loans are greatest among those of Puerto Rican descent.

Figure 5: Asian ethnicities
Figure 5: Hispanic ethnicities
Data source and notes

Source: NPSAS, table retrieval number ddgpwg (U.S. all), jejvld (California in-state), tpsawz (U.S. in-state).

Note: Filtered for 4-year colleges and U.S. citizenship. Limited to in-state, undergraduate students. “Total federal loans” includes Parent PLUS. No other racial groups besides Hispanic and Asian have breakouts by ethnicity in NPSAS.

Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking

About the data

This is some information about SHED. Explain your process of variable selection: there are many but you chose the ones that seemed most relevant to the question of the financial burden of student loans. Emphasize here that the relationship between student loans and these variables may be chicken-and-egg, where we can’t say for sure what causes the other. Acknowledge the limitations of the sample size. Would it be nice to filter by institution level and control? Yes. Would it cut the sample size down very, very far? Yes. Small differences of one of two percentage points may be attributable to random noise that can raise from sampling. Remember to say that the respondents are heads of households, meaning that the population represented is that of U.S. adults. (Children are not included.) A good example of the kind of questions SHED answers that other datasets cannot: do borrowers think their education was worth it?

Findings

Here we tee up the findings.

Figure 6

Responses to “Do you currently have student loan debt or owe any money used to pay for your own education?”

Data source and notes

xxx

Figure 7: Student loans

Responses to “Think about the money you currently owe for your own education. Is the money you owe for that education a student loan?”

Figure 7: Home equity

Responses to “Think about the money you currently owe for your own education. Is the money you owe for that education home equity?

Figure 7: Credit card debt

Responses to “Think about the money you currently owe for your own education. Is the money you owe for that education credit card debt?”

Data source and notes

xxx

Figure 8: CA borrowers

Responses to “Thinking specifically about the money that you owe for your own education, please tell the total amount that you currently owe on these loans.”

Figure 8: Rest of U.S. borrowers

Responses to “Thinking specifically about the money that you owe for your own education, please tell the total amount that you currently owe on these loans.”

Data source and notes

xxx

Figure 9: CA borrowers

Responses to “Approximately how much is the total monthly payment that you are required to make on the loans from your education?”

Figure 9: Rest of U.S. borrowers

Responses to “Approximately how much is the total monthly payment that you are required to make on the loans from your education?”

Data source and notes

Survey responses collected in 2020 and 2021 are not included due to the federal student loan payment pause in place that started in March 2020 and continued through all of 2021.
*** ### {-}

xxx

Figure 10

Responses to “Are you behind on payments or in collections for one or more of the loans from your own education?”

Data source and notes

Survey responses collected in 2020 and 2021 are not included due to the federal student loan payment pause in place that started in March 2020 and continued through all of 2021.

xxx

Figure 11: Debt for spouse’s or partner’s education

Responses to “Do you currently owe any money used to pay for your [spouse/ partner]’s education?”

Figure 11: Debt for child’s or grandchild’s education

Responses to “Do you currently owe any money used to pay for your child or grandchild’s education?”

Data source and notes

Figure 11 includes all respondents, not just those who have student debt for their own education. “Figure 11: Debt for spouse’s or partner’s education” does not include survey respondents without a spouse or partner. “Figure 11: Debt for child or grandchild’s education” does not include survey respondents without children or grandchildren. *** ### {-}

xxxx

Figure 12: CA borrowers

Responses to “What is the highest level of school you have completed or the highest degree you have received?”

Figure 12: Rest of U.S. borrowers

Responses to “What is the highest level of school you have completed or the highest degree you have received?”

Figure 12: CA non-borrowers

Responses to “What is the highest level of school you have completed or the highest degree you have received?”

Data source and notes

xxx

Figure 13: CA borrowers

Responses to “Do you own your home?”

Figure 13: Rest of U.S. borrowers

Responses to “Do you own your home?”

Figure 13: CA non-borrowers

Responses to “Do you own your home?”

Data source and notes

xxx

Figure 14: Student loan borrowers

Responses to “Do you currently have any outstanding unpaid credit card debt?”

Figure 14: Non-borrowers

Responses to “Do you currently have any outstanding unpaid credit card debt?”

Data source and notes

xxx

Figure 15: CA borrowers

Responses to “In the past 12 months, how frequently have you carried an unpaid balance on one or more of your credit cards?”

Figure 15: Rest of U.S. borrowers

Responses to “In the past 12 months, how frequently have you carried an unpaid balance on one or more of your credit cards?”

Figure 15: CA non-borrowers

Responses to “In the past 12 months, how frequently have you carried an unpaid balance on one or more of your credit cards?”

Data source and notes

xxx

Figure 16: CA borrowers

Responses to “What is the approximate total amount of your household’s savings and investments?”

Figure 16: Rest of U.S. borrowers

Responses to “What is the approximate total amount of your household’s savings and investments?”

Figure 16: CA non-borrowers

Responses to “What is the approximate total amount of your household’s savings and investments?”

Data source and notes

xxx

Figure 17: CA borrowers

Responses to “Which of the following categories best describes the total income that you received from all sources, before taxes and deductions, in the past 12 months?”

Figure 17: Rest of U.S. borrowers

Responses to “Which of the following categories best describes the total income that you received from all sources, before taxes and deductions, in the past 12 months?”

Figure 17: CA non-borrowers

Responses to “Which of the following categories best describes the total income that you received from all sources, before taxes and deductions, in the past 12 months?”

Data source and notes

xxx

Figure 18: CA borrowers

Responses to “Overall, which one of the following best describes how well you are managing financially these days?”

Figure 18: Rest of U.S. borrowers

Responses to “Overall, which one of the following best describes how well you are managing financially these days?”

Figure 18: CA non-borrowers

Responses to “Overall, which one of the following best describes how well you are managing financially these days?”

Data source and notes

xxx

Figure 19: CA borrowers

Responses to “Think of your parents when they were your age. Would you say you (and your family) are better, the same, or worse off financially than they were?”

Figure 19: Rest of U.S. borrowers

Responses to “Think of your parents when they were your age. Would you say you (and your family) are better, the same, or worse off financially than they were?”

Figure 19: CA non-borrowers

Responses to “Think of your parents when they were your age. Would you say you (and your family) are better, the same, or worse off financially than they were?”

Data source and notes

xxx

Figure 20: CA borrowers

Responses to “Where do you think your credit score falls?”

Figure 20: Rest of U.S. borrowers

Responses to “Where do you think your credit score falls?”

Figure 20: Non-borrowers

Responses to “Where do you think your credit score falls?”

Data source and notes

xxx

Figure 21: CA borrowers

Responses to “Which best describes your ability to pay all of your bills in full this month?”

Figure 21: Rest of U.S. borrowers

Responses to “Which best describes your ability to pay all of your bills in full this month?”

Figure 21: CA non-borrowers

Responses to “Which best describes your ability to pay all of your bills in full this month?”

Data source and notes

xxx

Figure 22: Ability to pay student loan bill

Responses to “Are you expecting to be unable to pay or only make a partial payment on your student loan bill this month?”

Figure 22: Ability to pay rent or mortgage bill

Responses to “Are you expecting to be unable to pay or only make a partial payment on each of the following bills this month?”

Figure 22: Ability to pay credit card bill

Responses to

Data source and notes

Survey years 2020 and 2021 not included in “Figure 22: Ability to pay student loan bill” due to the federal student loan repayment pause. ***

xxx

Figure 23

Responses to “Would you likely skip paying, or make only a partial payment on, your student loan bill if you had a $400 emergency expense that you had to pay?”

Data source and notes

Limited to those who have student loans. Survey years 2020 and 2021 not included. *** ### {-}

xxx

Figure 24: CA borrowers

Responses to “How would a $400 emergency expense that you had to pay impact your ability to pay your other bills this month?”

Figure 24: Rest of U.S. borrowers

Responses to “How would a $400 emergency expense that you had to pay impact your ability to pay your other bills this month?”

Figure 24: CA non-borrowers

Responses to “How would a $400 emergency expense that you had to pay impact your ability to pay your other bills this month?”

Data source and notes

xxx

Figure 25: CA borrowers

Responses to “If you were to apply for a credit card today, how confident are you that you would be approved?”

Figure 25: Rest of U.S. borrowers

Responses to “If you were to apply for a credit card today, how confident are you that you would be approved?”

Figure 25: CA non-borrowers

Responses to “If you were to apply for a credit card today, how confident are you that you would be approved?”

Data source and notes

xxx

Figure 26

Responses to “In the past 12 months, have you or your spouse/partner been turned down for credit?”

Data source and notes

Add a lot of caveats before this next section.

Figure 27: Social Security

Responses to “In the past 12 months, have you [and/or your spouse/ parnter] received Social Security (including old age and DI)?”

Figure 27: Cash assistance

Responses to “In the past 12 months, have you [and/or your spouse/ parnter] received Supplemental Security Income (SSI), TANF, or cash assistance from a welfare program?”

Figure 27: EITC

Responses to “In the past 12 months, have you [and/or your spouse/ parnter] received the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)?”

Figure 27: SNAP

Responses to “In the past 12 months, have you [and/or your spouse/ parnter] received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP or food stamps)?”

Figure 27: Housing assistance

Responses to “In the past 12 months, have you [and/or your spouse/ parnter] received housing assistance from a government program?”

Figure 27: FRPL

Responses to “In the past 12 months, have you [and/or your spouse/ parnter] received free or reduced price school lunches?”

Data source and notes

It’s weird that the “Cover expenses with savings” bars are lower than the “Cover expenses by any means” bars.

Figure 28: Cover expenses with savings

Responses to “Have you set aside emergency or rainy day funds that would cover your expenses for 3 months in case of sickness, job loss, economic downturn, or other emergencies?”

Figure 28: Cover expenses by any means

Responses to “If you were to lose your main source of income (for example, job or government benefits), could you cover your expenses for 3 months by borrowing money, using savings, or selling assets?”

Data source and notes

xxx

Figure 29: Pay $400 with credit card (no interest)

Responses to “Suppose that you have an emergency expense that costs $400. Based on your current financial situation, how would you pay for this expense? [Put it on my credit card and pay it off in full at the next statement]”

Figure 29: Pay $400 with credit card (with interest)

Responses to “Suppose that you have an emergency expense that costs $400. Based on your current financial situation, how would you pay for this expense? [Put it on my credit card and pay it off over time]”

Figure 29: Pay $400 with cash or savings

Responses to “Suppose that you have an emergency expense that costs $400. Based on your current financial situation, how would you pay for this expense? [With the money currently in my checking/savings account or with cash]”

Figure 29: Pay $400 with a bank loan

Responses to “Suppose that you have an emergency expense that costs $400. Based on your current financial situation, how would you pay for this expense? [Using money from a bank loan or line of credit]”

Figure 29: Pay $400 by borrowing from a friend

Responses to “Suppose that you have an emergency expense that costs $400. Based on your current financial situation, how would you pay for this expense? [By borrowing from a friend or family member]”

Figure 29: Pay $400 with a payday loan

Responses to “Suppose that you have an emergency expense that costs $400. Based on your current financial situation, how would you pay for this expense? [Using a payday loan, deposit advance, or overdraft]”

Figure 29: Pay $400 by selling something

Responses to “Suppose that you have an emergency expense that costs $400. Based on your current financial situation, how would you pay for this expense? [By selling something]”

Figure 29: Unable to pay $400

Responses to “Suppose that you have an emergency expense that costs $400. Based on your current financial situation, how would you pay for this expense? [I wouldn’t be able to pay for the expense right now]”

Data source and notes

Responses are not exclusive to each other. For an example, a respondent could say that they would sell belongings and use a payday loan. Because of this, groups’ bars cannot be stacked on top of each other in one chart and are instead presented here in a series of charts. *** ### {-}

xxx

Figure 30: CA borrowers

Responses to “Overall, how would you say the lifetime financial benefits of your [current/most recent] educational program compare to its financial costs?”

Figure 30: Rest of U.S. borrowers

Responses to “Overall, how would you say the lifetime financial benefits of your [current/most recent] educational program compare to its financial costs?”

Figure 30: CA non-borrowers

Responses to “Overall, how would you say the lifetime financial benefits of your [current/most recent] educational program compare to its financial costs?”

Data source and notes

xxx

Figure 31: Different field

Responses to “If you could go back and make your education decisions again, would you have chosen a different field of study?”

Figure 31: Different school

Responses to “If you could go back and make your education decisions again, would you have attended a different school?”

Figure 31: Less education

Responses to “If you could go back and make your education decisions again, would have not attended college or completed less education?”

Figure 31: More education

Responses to “If you could go back and make your education decisions again, would you have completed more education?”

Data source and notes

xxx

Figure 32: Gender

Share who are male:

Data source and notes

The gender variable, as collected and reported by SHED, only has “male” and “female” values. *** ### {-}

xxx

Figure 33: CA borrowers

Level of higher education institution

Figure 33: Rest of U.S. borrowers

Level of higher education institution

Figure 33: CA non-borrowers

Level of higher education institution

Data source and notes

Only includes those who had college experience.

xxx

Figure 34: CA borrowers

Control of higher education institution

Figure 34: Rest of U.S. borrowers

Control of higher education institution

Figure 34: CA non-borrowers

Control of higher education institution

Data source and notes

Only includes those who had college experience.

xxx

College Scorecard

About the data

xxxx

Findings

xxxx

A

B

C

D

## Warning: NAs introduced by coercion

## Warning: NAs introduced by coercion

## Warning: NAs introduced by coercion

## Warning: NAs introduced by coercion

## Warning: NAs introduced by coercion

## Warning: NAs introduced by coercion
Top California institutions by average outstanding Stafford balance
Institution name Control of institution Total outstanding Stafford loan debt Total Stafford loan borrowers Average outstanding Stafford debt
Life Chiropractic College West Non-profit 463,530,000 3,561.0 130,200
Western University of Health Sciences Non-profit 1,465,447,000 12,243.0 119,700
The Wright Institute Non-profit 149,248,000 1,306.0 114,300
Southern California University of Health Sciences Non-profit 527,940,000 4,771.0 110,700
Touro University California Non-profit 830,509,000 8,408.0 98,800
Palo Alto University Non-profit 259,552,000 2,663.0 97,500
Marshall B Ketchum University Non-profit 170,318,000 1,753.0 97,200
Five Branches University For-profit 82,985,000 916.0 90,600
Yo San University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Non-profit 57,925,000 691.0 83,800
Fielding Graduate University Non-profit 317,320,000 3,874.0 81,900
Alliant International University-San Diego For-profit 1,208,153,000 14,804.0 81,600
University of California-San Francisco Public 471,915,000 6,718.0 70,200
Loma Linda University Non-profit 1,135,047,000 16,357.0 69,400
Sofia University For-profit 89,498,000 1,326.0 67,500
John F. Kennedy University Non-profit 405,147,000 6,008.0 67,400
Pacifica Graduate Institute For-profit 205,005,000 3,060.0 67,000
California Institute of Integral Studies Non-profit 367,350,000 5,594.0 65,700
Emperor’s College of Traditional Oriental Medicine For-profit 62,447,000 971.0 64,300
California Western School of Law Non-profit 351,054,000 5,494.0 63,900
Saybrook University Non-profit 155,795,000 2,460.0 63,300
Pacific College of Health and Science For-profit 380,438,000 6,145.0 61,900
Claremont Graduate University Non-profit 377,122,000 6,160.0 61,200
Thomas Jefferson School of Law Non-profit 319,679,000 5,351.0 59,700
The Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Los Angeles Non-profit 1,413,054,000 23,906.0 59,100
San Joaquin College of Law Non-profit 68,170,000 1,197.0 57,000
Fuller Theological Seminary Non-profit 304,041,000 5,362.0 56,700
Southwestern Law School Non-profit 338,985,000 6,045.0 56,100
American Film Institute Conservatory Non-profit 71,632,000 1,286.0 55,700
Samuel Merritt University Non-profit 411,515,000 7,647.0 53,800
South Baylo University Non-profit 61,510,000 1,153.0 53,300
Pacific School of Religion Non-profit 33,728,000 658.0 51,300
Claremont School of Theology Non-profit 41,610,000 840.0 49,500
University of California-Hastings College of Law Public 247,993,000 5,050.0 49,100
Southern California Institute of Architecture Non-profit 73,517,000 1,517.0 48,500
Golden Gate University-San Francisco Non-profit 445,812,000 9,771.0 45,600
University of Southern California Non-profit 4,153,059,000 91,127.0 45,600
Pacific Oaks College Non-profit 279,540,000 6,136.0 45,600
University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences For-profit 412,448,000 9,144.0 45,100
University of the Pacific Non-profit 1,013,043,000 22,481.0 45,100
Keck Graduate Institute Non-profit 50,782,000 1,153.0 44,000
The Santa Barbara and Ventura Colleges of Law at Ventura Non-profit 23,362,000 534.0 43,700
Newschool of Architecture and Design For-profit 83,410,000 2,060.0 40,500
Pepperdine University Non-profit 1,147,364,000 28,361.0 40,500
University of West Los Angeles For-profit 60,243,000 1,527.0 39,500
Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science Non-profit 132,003,000 3,513.0 37,600
University of La Verne Non-profit 1,166,422,000 31,697.0 36,800
American Jewish University Non-profit 23,910,000 656.0 36,400
Humphreys University-Stockton and Modesto Campuses Non-profit 182,055,000 5,022.0 36,300
California Institute of the Arts Non-profit 203,315,000 5,652.0 36,000
Notre Dame de Namur University Non-profit 205,288,000 5,951.0 34,500
Art Center College of Design Non-profit 186,835,000 5,732.0 32,600
Azusa Pacific University Non-profit 1,293,070,000 40,438.0 32,000
Holy Names University Non-profit 154,485,000 4,948.0 31,200
National University Non-profit 2,601,824,000 83,383.0 31,200
Brandman University Non-profit 780,452,000 25,161.0 31,000
San Francisco Conservatory of Music Non-profit 39,854,000 1,297.0 30,700
Whittier College Non-profit 303,707,000 9,893.0 30,700
California Baptist University Non-profit 1,004,644,000 32,733.0 30,700
Loyola Marymount University Non-profit 771,231,000 25,181.0 30,600
Woodbury University Non-profit 174,003,000 5,749.0 30,300
University of San Francisco Non-profit 919,186,000 30,689.0 30,000
San Francisco Art Institute Non-profit 88,233,000 2,949.0 29,900
Academy of Art University For-profit 1,428,742,000 48,013.0 29,800
Chapman University Non-profit 992,096,000 33,556.0 29,600
University of San Diego Non-profit 678,870,000 23,173.0 29,300
California College of the Arts Non-profit 155,492,000 5,432.0 28,600
Mills College Non-profit 175,686,000 6,377.0 27,600
Touro University Worldwide Non-profit 100,452,000 3,650.0 27,500
Santa Clara University Non-profit 371,665,000 13,509.0 27,500
Northcentral University Non-profit 1,060,572,000 38,650.0 27,400
University of Redlands Non-profit 537,993,000 19,676.0 27,300
Dominican University of California Non-profit 178,589,000 6,569.0 27,200
Design Institute of San Diego For-profit 31,830,000 1,176.0 27,100
Point Loma Nazarene University Non-profit 367,303,000 13,576.0 27,100
American University of Health Sciences For-profit 31,615,000 1,177.0 26,900
Mount Saint Mary’s University Non-profit 372,344,000 13,967.0 26,700
South Coast College For-profit 62,386,000 2,392.0 26,100
California Lutheran University Non-profit 326,493,000 12,613.0 25,900
SAE Expression College For-profit 75,153,000 2,934.0 25,600
Saint Mary’s College of California Non-profit 312,148,000 12,239.0 25,500
Fresno Pacific University Non-profit 385,775,000 15,164.0 25,400
Hope International University Non-profit 149,024,000 5,860.0 25,400
United States University For-profit 45,205,000 1,829.0 24,700
Stanford University Non-profit 230,561,000 9,444.0 24,400
Concordia University-Irvine Non-profit 353,980,000 14,521.0 24,400
West Coast University-Los Angeles For-profit 790,941,000 32,503.0 24,300
University of California-Los Angeles Public 1,881,849,000 77,487.0 24,300
La Sierra University Non-profit 230,739,000 9,749.0 23,700
Biola University Non-profit 337,316,000 14,301.0 23,600
California State University-San Bernardino Public 1,175,920,000 49,955.0 23,500
California College San Diego Non-profit 163,911,000 6,998.0 23,400
Otis College of Art and Design Non-profit 92,190,000 3,955.0 23,300
Epic Bible College Non-profit 18,449,000 805.0 22,900
Ashford University For-profit 7,290,839,000 335,964.0 21,700
Laguna College of Art and Design Non-profit 37,397,000 1,744.0 21,400
New York Film Academy For-profit 59,199,000 2,777.0 21,300
Vanguard University of Southern California Non-profit 192,866,000 9,256.0 20,800
Cogswell University of Silicon Valley For-profit 36,808,000 1,767.0 20,800
Simpson University Non-profit 112,695,000 5,463.0 20,600
San Francisco State University Public 1,454,911,000 71,429.0 20,400
California Intercontinental University For-profit 13,894,000 686.0 20,300
California State University-Northridge Public 1,667,279,000 82,875.0 20,100
California State University-Dominguez Hills Public 773,551,000 38,480.0 20,100
University of California-Berkeley Public 1,093,887,000 54,654.0 20,000
Laurus College For-profit 82,376,000 4,142.0 19,900
California State University-East Bay Public 697,148,000 35,252.0 19,800
Pacific Union College Non-profit 126,042,000 6,402.0 19,700
Interior Designers Institute For-profit 14,492,000 742.0 19,500
Platt College-San Diego For-profit 43,146,000 2,215.0 19,500
William Jessup University Non-profit 87,519,000 4,494.0 19,500
University of California-Irvine Public 1,087,777,000 55,861.0 19,500
San Diego State University Public 1,429,377,000 73,964.0 19,300
California State University-Sacramento Public 1,327,865,000 69,311.0 19,200
San Jose State University Public 988,602,000 51,815.0 19,100
University of California-Davis Public 1,169,660,000 61,382.0 19,100
California State University-Los Angeles Public 928,206,000 49,250.0 18,800
Westcliff University For-profit 11,141,000 593.0 18,800
California State University-Fresno Public 885,899,000 47,211.0 18,800
California State University-Long Beach Public 1,376,190,000 73,655.0 18,700
Los Angeles Film School For-profit 318,164,000 17,039.0 18,700
California State University-Stanislaus Public 403,259,000 21,622.0 18,700
California State University-Bakersfield Public 452,187,000 24,366.0 18,600
Trident University International For-profit 203,467,000 11,006.0 18,500
Fremont College For-profit 54,469,000 2,951.0 18,500
SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary Non-profit 32,056,000 1,739.0 18,400
San Diego Christian College Non-profit 60,117,000 3,274.0 18,400
Stanbridge University For-profit 112,026,000 6,142.0 18,200
Columbia College Hollywood Non-profit 59,436,000 3,265.0 18,200
California State University-Fullerton Public 1,213,508,000 67,322.0 18,000
Life Pacific University Non-profit 40,137,000 2,228.0 18,000
University of California-San Diego Public 922,278,000 51,282.0 18,000
John Paul the Great Catholic University Non-profit 11,803,000 657.0 18,000
Platt College-Los Angeles For-profit 215,150,000 12,010.0 17,900
Humboldt State University Public 475,206,000 26,591.0 17,900
Sonoma State University Public 381,854,000 21,371.0 17,900
University of California-Riverside Public 957,718,000 53,634.0 17,900
California State University-San Marcos Public 517,212,000 28,992.0 17,800
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Public 757,945,000 42,729.0 17,700
California State University Maritime Academy Public 39,921,000 2,264.0 17,600
The Master’s University and Seminary Non-profit 62,800,000 3,628.0 17,300
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Freemont For-profit 14,012,000 825.0 17,000
Menlo College Non-profit 43,918,000 2,606.0 16,900
University of California-Santa Barbara Public 782,193,000 46,861.0 16,700
California State University-Chico Public 699,051,000 42,402.0 16,500
ATI College-Norwalk For-profit 15,885,000 966.0 16,400
West Coast Ultrasound Institute For-profit 119,500,000 7,283.0 16,400
California State University-Channel Islands Public 207,781,000 12,794.0 16,200
Spartan College of Aeronautics & Technology For-profit 82,504,000 5,124.0 16,100
College of Marin Public 47,853,000 2,973.0 16,100
University of California-Santa Cruz Public 629,407,000 39,644.0 15,900
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo Public 450,302,000 28,614.0 15,700
California State University-Monterey Bay Public 258,629,000 16,551.0 15,600
California Career College For-profit 9,517,000 613.0 15,500
Santa Barbara Business College-Bakersfield For-profit 84,362,000 5,455.0 15,500
Pacific College For-profit 39,057,000 2,534.0 15,400
Beaumont Adult School Public 9,774,000 635.0 15,400
Los Angeles Pierce College Public 102,621,000 6,726.0 15,300
Casa Loma College-Van Nuys Non-profit 62,840,000 4,159.0 15,100
Homestead Schools Non-profit 18,821,000 1,262.0 14,900
University of California-Merced Public 191,549,000 12,910.0 14,800
Marymount California University Non-profit 49,430,000 3,332.0 14,800
California Aeronautical University For-profit 49,876,000 3,468.0 14,400
Los Angeles Pacific University Non-profit 57,346,000 3,999.0 14,300
Antelope Valley College Public 209,037,000 14,600.0 14,300
Copper Mountain Community College Public 19,689,000 1,395.0 14,100
Occidental College Non-profit 58,532,000 4,162.0 14,100
Sierra College Public 121,258,000 8,645.0 14,000
American River College Public 217,935,000 15,622.0 14,000
Empire College For-profit 52,769,000 3,787.0 13,900
Career Networks Institute For-profit 58,830,000 4,226.0 13,900
Westmont College Non-profit 47,591,000 3,464.0 13,700
CBD College Non-profit 43,849,000 3,202.0 13,700
Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts For-profit 110,125,000 8,234.0 13,400
Professional Golfers Career College For-profit 15,243,000 1,142.0 13,300
Pitzer College Non-profit 23,863,000 1,790.0 13,300
San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia For-profit 857,532,000 64,329.0 13,300
West Los Angeles College Public 47,388,000 3,591.0 13,200
Southern California Institute of Technology For-profit 57,588,000 4,394.0 13,100
Victor Valley College Public 70,218,000 5,365.0 13,100
CES College Non-profit 6,700,000 512.0 13,100
Harvey Mudd College Non-profit 13,342,000 1,023.0 13,000
Mt San Jacinto Community College District Public 37,900,000 2,914.0 13,000
Sacramento City College Public 149,956,000 11,553.0 13,000
Angeles Institute For-profit 15,910,000 1,228.0 13,000
Solano Community College Public 48,046,000 3,716.0 12,900
Los Angeles Mission College Public 21,940,000 1,708.0 12,800
Carrington College-Sacramento For-profit 629,825,000 49,571.0 12,700
California Career Institute For-profit 11,851,000 940.0 12,600
California Nurses Educational Institute For-profit 12,352,000 984.0 12,600
Butte College Public 156,244,000 12,624.0 12,400
Los Angeles City College Public 87,912,000 7,119.0 12,300
Bakersfield College Public 57,940,000 4,717.0 12,300
University of Antelope Valley For-profit 77,117,000 6,286.0 12,300
Advanced College For-profit 19,111,000 1,558.0 12,300
Cosumnes River College Public 71,465,000 5,834.0 12,200
PCI College For-profit 11,812,000 965.0 12,200
Cabrillo College Public 46,787,000 3,845.0 12,200
Santa Barbara Business College-Santa Maria For-profit 24,770,000 2,042.0 12,100
Summit College For-profit 165,107,000 13,613.0 12,100
East Los Angeles College Public 38,615,000 3,190.0 12,100
Angeles College For-profit 7,944,000 660.0 12,000
College of the Siskiyous Public 45,776,000 3,816.0 12,000
Merritt College Public 18,503,000 1,547.0 12,000
Paul Mitchell the School-Temecula For-profit 24,843,000 2,080.0 11,900
Career Development Institute Inc For-profit 7,316,000 613.0 11,900
High Desert Medical College For-profit 36,324,000 3,056.0 11,900
Premiere Career College For-profit 41,656,000 3,510.0 11,900
International School of Cosmetology For-profit 24,376,000 2,058.0 11,800
Folsom Lake College Public 21,243,000 1,798.0 11,800
Modern Technology School For-profit 18,567,000 1,573.0 11,800
InterCoast Colleges-Santa Ana For-profit 159,839,000 13,567.0 11,800
American Career College-Ontario For-profit 155,276,000 13,239.0 11,700
College of the Canyons Public 66,159,000 5,642.0 11,700
FIDM-Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising-Los Angeles For-profit 249,500,000 21,318.0 11,700
Monterey Peninsula College Public 27,072,000 2,332.0 11,600
National Polytechnic College For-profit 17,292,000 1,496.0 11,600
Cypress College Public 56,714,000 4,922.0 11,500
Los Angeles County College of Nursing and Allied Health Public 8,211,000 714.0 11,500
City College of San Francisco Public 107,805,000 9,442.0 11,400
Ventura College Public 46,914,000 4,114.0 11,400
Career Care Institute For-profit 58,500,000 5,151.0 11,400
Los Angeles Valley College Public 47,973,000 4,227.0 11,300
Concorde Career College-Garden Grove For-profit 84,475,000 7,458.0 11,300
Ohlone College Public 14,840,000 1,321.0 11,200
Bellus Academy-Chula Vista For-profit 24,312,000 2,176.0 11,200
Santa Barbara City College Public 149,717,000 13,484.0 11,100
Berkeley City College Public 19,616,000 1,767.0 11,100
San Joaquin Delta College Public 88,718,000 7,998.0 11,100
Las Positas College Public 9,243,000 836.0 11,100
Chabot College Public 35,706,000 3,230.0 11,100
Thomas Aquinas College Non-profit 11,191,000 1,016.0 11,000
Mendocino College Public 17,805,000 1,619.0 11,000
Moorpark College Public 33,687,000 3,075.0 11,000
Santa Ana College Public 31,773,000 2,903.0 10,900
American Career College-Los Angeles For-profit 395,160,000 36,201.0 10,900
Unitek College For-profit 114,668,000 10,520.0 10,900
West Hills College-Lemoore Public 14,955,000 1,373.0 10,900
Rio Hondo College Public 30,753,000 2,830.0 10,900
Allan Hancock College Public 17,793,000 1,641.0 10,800
Concorde Career College-North Hollywood For-profit 85,467,000 7,967.0 10,700
Marian Health Careers Center-Los Angeles Campus For-profit 15,751,000 1,472.0 10,700
Paul Mitchell the School-East Bay For-profit 14,309,000 1,344.0 10,600
Paul Mitchell the School-Fresno For-profit 17,523,000 1,663.0 10,500
Concorde Career College-San Bernardino For-profit 109,398,000 10,433.0 10,500
Scripps College Non-profit 13,466,000 1,285.0 10,500
Coastline Community College Public 38,291,000 3,660.0 10,500
De Anza College Public 84,849,000 8,123.0 10,400
Shasta College Public 65,480,000 6,283.0 10,400
Los Angeles Southwest College Public 16,040,000 1,548.0 10,400
Laney College Public 22,399,000 2,162.0 10,400
College of the Desert Public 21,526,000 2,079.0 10,400
Concorde Career College-San Diego For-profit 80,855,000 7,832.0 10,300
Blake Austin College For-profit 26,546,000 2,572.0 10,300
Napa Valley College Public 11,950,000 1,167.0 10,200
American College of Healthcare and Technology For-profit 38,734,000 3,788.0 10,200
Canada College Public 8,259,000 808.0 10,200
North Adrian’s College of Beauty Inc For-profit 16,923,000 1,657.0 10,200
Unitek College For-profit 19,976,000 1,958.0 10,200
Glendale Career College For-profit 101,309,000 9,933.0 10,200
Elite Cosmetology School For-profit 6,310,000 624.0 10,100
Claremont McKenna College Non-profit 10,069,000 996.0 10,100
Paul Mitchell the School-Sherman Oaks For-profit 16,645,000 1,647.0 10,100
Coba Academy For-profit 6,323,000 628.0 10,100
College of Alameda Public 7,760,000 772.0 10,100
Gavilan College Public 12,414,000 1,239.0 10,000
Irvine Valley College Public 23,821,000 2,378.0 10,000
Valley College of Medical Careers For-profit 8,814,000 883.0 10,000
Feather River Community College District Public 24,519,000 2,459.0 10,000
Los Angeles Trade Technical College Public 28,615,000 2,875.0 10,000
Institute of Technology For-profit 219,679,000 22,177.0 9,900
Paul Mitchell the School-Pasadena For-profit 14,353,000 1,453.0 9,900
Musicians Institute For-profit 56,314,000 5,723.0 9,800
Paul Mitchell the School-Sacramento For-profit 30,745,000 3,144.0 9,800
Cerritos College Public 73,537,000 7,559.0 9,700
Foothill College Public 42,677,000 4,422.0 9,700
Pomona College Non-profit 10,556,000 1,097.0 9,600
Evergreen Valley College Public 10,275,000 1,069.0 9,600
El Camino Community College District Public 31,870,000 3,332.0 9,600
Glendale Community College Public 32,447,000 3,411.0 9,500
Charles A Jones Career and Education Center Public 7,712,000 816.0 9,500
San Jose City College Public 14,816,000 1,569.0 9,400
Citrus College Public 34,776,000 3,712.0 9,400
Cuesta College Public 48,706,000 5,214.0 9,300
Healthcare Career College For-profit 15,877,000 1,705.0 9,300
Paul Mitchell the School-Costa Mesa For-profit 14,079,000 1,512.0 9,300
North-West College-Pomona For-profit 92,407,000 9,981.0 9,300
Norco College Public 6,633,000 717.0 9,300
Bellus Academy-Poway For-profit 36,753,000 3,976.0 9,200
San Francisco Institute of Esthetics & Cosmetology Inc For-profit 12,178,000 1,321.0 9,200
Avalon School of Cosmetology-Alameda For-profit 10,739,000 1,165.0 9,200
Colleen O’Haras Beauty Academy For-profit 8,515,000 924.0 9,200
Skyline College Public 9,223,000 1,001.0 9,200
Asher College For-profit 26,899,000 2,942.0 9,100
College of the Redwoods Public 53,314,000 5,835.0 9,100
Saddleback College Public 33,019,000 3,616.0 9,100
Los Medanos College Public 9,467,000 1,038.0 9,100
Salon Success Academy-Riverside For-profit 5,279,000 579.0 9,100
Mission College Public 8,542,000 940.0 9,100
MTI College For-profit 71,722,000 7,917.0 9,100
Bellus Academy-El Cajon For-profit 15,113,000 1,675.0 9,000
Moler Barber College For-profit 9,110,000 1,012.0 9,000
Adrian’s College of Beauty Turlock For-profit 7,743,000 862.0 9,000
Santa Rosa Junior College Public 42,626,000 4,784.0 8,900
Cambridge Junior College-Yuba City For-profit 16,118,000 1,837.0 8,800
Salon Success Academy-Corona For-profit 23,403,000 2,677.0 8,700
Santiago Canyon College Public 10,729,000 1,229.0 8,700
Yuba College Public 16,435,000 1,883.0 8,700
National Career College For-profit 12,653,000 1,450.0 8,700
United Education Institute-Huntington Park Campus For-profit 753,620,000 87,043.0 8,700
Cinta Aveda Institute For-profit 13,720,000 1,597.0 8,600
Fullerton College Public 81,084,000 9,462.0 8,600
MiraCosta College Public 26,812,000 3,133.0 8,600
Long Beach City College Public 103,131,000 12,120.0 8,500
San Diego City College Public 85,699,000 10,072.0 8,500
California Healing Arts College For-profit 12,052,000 1,423.0 8,500
Contra Costa College Public 14,264,000 1,694.0 8,400
National Holistic Institute For-profit 71,496,000 8,496.0 8,400
Moreno Valley College Public 8,547,000 1,024.0 8,300
Southern California Health Institute For-profit 19,175,000 2,312.0 8,300
Milan Institute-Palm Desert For-profit 58,789,000 7,104.0 8,300
UEI College-Fresno For-profit 126,163,000 15,425.0 8,200
West Valley College Public 10,183,000 1,248.0 8,200
Lassen Community College Public 11,119,000 1,371.0 8,100
Mayfield College For-profit 29,172,000 3,606.0 8,100
Paul Mitchell the School-Modesto For-profit 17,058,000 2,109.0 8,100
Lancaster Beauty School For-profit 10,371,000 1,284.0 8,100
Hypnosis Motivation Institute Non-profit 15,306,000 1,898.0 8,100
Milan Institute-Visalia For-profit 76,240,000 9,498.0 8,000
Pasadena City College Public 29,084,000 3,629.0 8,000
Orange Coast College Public 55,584,000 6,962.0 8,000
UEI College-Gardena For-profit 139,954,000 17,591.0 8,000
The Salon Professional Academy-San Jose For-profit 4,932,000 620.0 8,000
West Hills College-Coalinga Public 17,737,000 2,249.0 7,900
Salon Success Academy-Upland For-profit 13,386,000 1,709.0 7,800
Santa Monica College Public 46,606,000 6,011.0 7,800
Institute for Business and Technology For-profit 95,225,000 12,318.0 7,700
North-West College-Van Nuys For-profit 15,837,000 2,049.0 7,700
College of San Mateo Public 9,075,000 1,177.0 7,700
Golden West College Public 32,877,000 4,309.0 7,600
Lytles Redwood Empire Beauty College Inc For-profit 6,053,000 794.0 7,600
Palladium Technical Academy Inc For-profit 4,745,000 628.0 7,600
Federico Beauty Institute For-profit 20,104,000 2,684.0 7,500
Diablo Valley College Public 21,462,000 2,868.0 7,500
International School of Beauty Inc For-profit 9,573,000 1,290.0 7,400
North-West College-West Covina For-profit 54,413,000 7,355.0 7,400
Los Angeles Harbor College Public 10,291,000 1,400.0 7,400
Diversified Vocational College For-profit 12,011,000 1,659.0 7,200
Riverside City College Public 41,004,000 5,666.0 7,200
Cerro Coso Community College Public 4,966,000 690.0 7,200
Palomar Institute of Cosmetology For-profit 9,930,000 1,394.0 7,100
Brownson Technical School For-profit 9,466,000 1,330.0 7,100
Compton College Public 6,681,000 944.0 7,100
Hartnell College Public 5,650,000 804.0 7,000
Healing Hands School of Holistic Health For-profit 4,852,000 693.0 7,000
Mt San Antonio College Public 21,914,000 3,131.0 7,000
Southwestern College Public 28,710,000 4,114.0 7,000
NTMA Training Centers of Southern California Non-profit 30,741,000 4,420.0 7,000
Lyle’s College of Beauty For-profit 4,710,000 683.0 6,900
Bay Area Medical Academy For-profit 3,732,000 548.0 6,800
Royale College of Beauty and Barbering For-profit 3,728,000 549.0 6,800
Cuyamaca College Public 8,535,000 1,258.0 6,800
Lu Ross Academy For-profit 12,827,000 1,892.0 6,800
California Beauty School For-profit 3,605,000 535.0 6,700
Gemological Institute of America-Carlsbad Non-profit 4,389,000 655.0 6,700
California Hair Design Academy For-profit 8,072,000 1,229.0 6,600
Academy for Salon Professionals For-profit 3,380,000 515.0 6,600
Capstone College For-profit 6,316,000 968.0 6,500
Design’s School of Cosmetology For-profit 5,927,000 909.0 6,500
Central California School of Continuing Education For-profit 8,485,000 1,302.0 6,500
Associated Technical College-Los Angeles For-profit 41,790,000 6,445.0 6,500
Associated Technical College-San Diego For-profit 10,573,000 1,650.0 6,400
Palomar College Public 23,566,000 3,697.0 6,400
Career Academy of Beauty For-profit 9,595,000 1,519.0 6,300
Chaffey College Public 10,648,000 1,717.0 6,200
San Diego Miramar College Public 16,391,000 2,695.0 6,100
Newberry School of Beauty For-profit 7,494,000 1,237.0 6,100
ATA College For-profit 3,475,000 578.0 6,000
Community Christian College Non-profit 5,341,000 890.0 6,000
CET-San Jose Non-profit 106,615,000 18,142.0 5,900
College of the Sequoias Public 10,737,000 1,903.0 5,600
San Bernardino Valley College Public 9,037,000 1,602.0 5,600
San Diego Mesa College Public 44,442,000 7,945.0 5,600
Advanced Career Institute For-profit 8,968,000 1,619.0 5,500
Grossmont College Public 27,064,000 4,899.0 5,500
American Beauty College For-profit 2,699,000 539.0 5,000
Central Coast College For-profit 9,576,000 1,943.0 4,900
Stellar Career College For-profit 2,737,000 564.0 4,900
Fresno City College Public 38,203,000 7,924.0 4,800
Make-up Designory For-profit 10,192,000 2,131.0 4,800
Reedley College Public 14,933,000 3,296.0 4,500
The Fab School For-profit 2,512,000 575.0 4,400
Palace Beauty College For-profit 2,225,000 593.0 3,800
Coachella Valley Beauty College For-profit 1,669,000 517.0 3,200

Remaining Gaps